BASEBALL; Mets Are Packing Roster For the Early Bird Specials

By BEN SHPIGEL

Published: February 20, 2007

The Mets signed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. to a minor league contract Monday, ending the three-week drought since they last signed a 40-year-old player.

Alomar, the son of the Mets' third-base coach, Sandy Alomar, is expected to report Tuesday, when he will join five other members of the 40-or-over set: Tom Glavine (40), Moises Alou (40), Orlando Hern?ez (41), Ruben Sierra (41) and Julio Franco (48). Of that group, Sierra and Alomar stand the least chance of making the team, although Alomar could challenge Ram?astro to be Paul Lo Duca's backup.

Sandy Alomar said that he had no influence in bringing his son here, adding that he merely gave his son's cellphone number to Tony Bernazard, the Mets' vice president for development. Alomar said he was looking forward to coaching his son for the second time; he coached both his sons, Sandy and Roberto, in San Diego in the late 1980s.

''Anytime you have your kids around is a special time,'' Alomar said.

Alomar Jr. played 27 games for the Dodgers last season before he was traded to the White Sox in July. Over all, he batted .278 with 17 R.B.I.

A PITCH TO REMEMBER -- Carlos Beltr?had four months to reflect on the pitch that ended the Mets' season against the Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. Some days, he thought about it a lot. Others, not as much.

But no matter how often he replayed Adam Wainwright's devastating curveball, his conclusion never changed: Never again, especially in that situation -- two outs, bases loaded, bottom of the ninth -- would he see a pitch that unhittable.

''The last pitch was a pitch, maybe this year, even if I feel good at the plate, I don't think I can hit that pitch,'' Beltr?said. ''That's how nasty that pitch was. It was a pitch on the outside corner for a strike. I mean, I saw it, but I couldn't do anything with it.''

It was a disappointing ending to an otherwise stirring season. Beltr?batted .275 with 41 home runs and 116 R.B.I., finishing fourth in the voting for league most valuable player. Bothered by several leg injuries, Beltr?still stole 18 bases. He vowed to take advantage of his speed more this season.

Manager Willie Randolph said: ''I felt that's one of the only things missing from his game since he's been here. That's another dimension. He can steal 40 bases, 50 bases, easy.''

Photo: Sandy Alomar Jr., center, was signed to a minor league contract by the Mets. He joins five other players who are at least 40 years old. (Photo by Jeff Topping for The New York Times)